Confusing Words in German

‘False friends’ are confusing words in two languages that look or sound similar but have a different meaning. False friends and direct translation can get you into trouble when learning English. Our free eBook shares over 100 false friends.

New Call-to-action


Read the email

You received the email below from your German colleague, Dirk. Unfortunately, Dirk has mixed up some German and English vocabulary. What does Dirk really mean?

Dear Development Team,

I have become great news about the actual status of our development project.
Our colleges in Bratislava have controlled the new technique and everything passed the first review, which means we can continue with development. I hope the next reviews will be finished by the end of December.

We can, therefore, eventually start production in six months. We also found a fabric to rent and we have paid the caution. I mean we can move our machines into the house at the end of next month.
We are on schedule and that is fantastic news. Thank you everyone for your support.

Best Regards,
Dirk


Here is the correct way this email should be written without the false friends and below you can find some explanations:

Dear Development Team,

I have 1.got/ received great news about the 2.current status of our development project.

Our 3.colleagues in Bratislava have 4.checked the new 5.technology and everything passed the first review, which means we can continue with development.  I hope the next reviews will be finished by the end of December.

We can, therefore, 6.possibly start production in six months.  We also found a 7.factory to rent and we have paid the 8.deposit.  I 9.think we can move our machines into the 10.building at the end of next month.

We are on schedule and that is fantastic news.  Thank you everyone for your support.

Best Regards,

Dirk

False friends in German

1.Become is very often mixed up with the German bekommen, which roughly translates as get, receive or have.

2. Aktuell in German is not actual in English.  It is current.

3. Kollege in German means colleague, but is often misspelt or wrongly translated to college.

4. In the example above, Kontrollieren in German is better translated as check or monitor.

5. Technique is often confused with the German Technik, which is a noun meaning technology.

6. This mix-up can cause a lot of confusion because eventuell in Germany means possible/possibly.

7. Fabrik in German means factory.

8. Caution is not the German word Kaution.  Kaution is better translated as deposit.

9. Many German speakers make the mistake of translating the verb meinen as mean.  A better translation is think (when giving an opinion).

10.  While Haus can be translated as house in German, it also means building.

0 replies

Leave a Reply

Want to join the discussion?
Feel free to contribute!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *